With the summer unofficially here, Orange senior Ava New is still aiming to make the 3A Mideast Regionals in the long jump and the triple jump. Earlier this year, New finished 1st at a tri-meet with Southern Durham at Cedar Ridge in the long jump and the triple jump. New won the long jump with a leap of 14-feet, one-inch. In the triple jump, New had a new personal best of 28-feet, 7-inches. Against Vance County and Chapel Hill on May 13, New had her third first place finish of the year in the long jump at 15-feet, four inches. In a meet against East Chapel Hill on May 6, New came in second in the long jump at 14-feet, eight-inches. Ava finds herself quite busy away from the track. She’s a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the BETA Club, as well as the National Spanish Honors Club. In addition to all of that, she works at Neuvo Taco in Durham. The 3A Mideast Regionals are scheduled for June 19 at Southern Lee High School in Sanford.

The rivalry game between Orange and Cedar Ridge at Red Wolves Territory was suspended by rain in the bottom of the second inning on Friday night, but it sure had some fireworks early.

Orange’s Ryan Hench drilled a two-run homer to put the Panthers ahead 2-1. The game was stopped in the bottom of the second inning. In Cedar Ridge’s side of the first inning, shortstop Bryce Clark laced a solo homer to left field. He became the first person to score a run off Hench this year. Hench entered the game with 17 scoreless innings over three games this season. He had yielded only four hits with 30 strikeouts and seven walks.

The rain interrupted a night that Cedar Ridge Head Coach Bryson Massey had prepared weeks for. The game was a Vs. Cancer benefit where Major League Baseball memorabilia would be raffled off. Anyone who purchased tickets for the raffle should keep the tickets. The game will be rescheduled at a later date.

Cedar Ridge will travel to Northern Durham on Wednesday night. Orange travels to Northwood Tuesday night at 7.

Wrestling:

Cedar Ridge 49, Greensboro Grimsley 19; Cedar Ridge 39, Montgomery Central 36

Despite competing during a pandemic, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team eclipsed its win total from the previous season on Friday night.

The Red Wolves defeated Greensboro Grimsely 49-19, then held off Montgomery Central 39-36. It was the Red Wolves’ second tri-match sweep of the week. They’re now 12-6 on the year.

The victory over Montgomery turned out to be the most dramatic win of the season for the Red Wolves. The match was tied 36-36 with only the heavyweight bout between Cedar Ridge’s Aidan Kearns and the Timberwolves’ Jordi Bello remaining. Kearns earned a 6-1 decision to put Cedar Ridge ahead 39-36. The only remaining match was a double forfeit at 106 pounds, so Cedar Ridge took its fourth straight victory.

Kearns, who was the starting goalkeeper for the Cedar Ridge lacrosse team this season, is now 10-8. He earned a forfeit win over Grimsley earlier in the night.

Sophomore Fernando Martinez earned his 50th career win against Grimsley. At 120 pounds, Martinez opened the dual match against the Whirlies with a 13-4 major decision over Zachary Swearington. Martinez, who is 15-1 on the year, pinned Tarian Tanner of Montgomery in 35 seconds. It was his eighth pinfall victory of the year.

Senior Daina Pritchard pinned Montgomery’s Cain Arzate in 1:00 for the 70th win of his career. Pritchard, who is 15-1, suffered his first loss of the season against Grimsley’s Toure Moore.

Senior James Rosati-Brown improved to 18-0 at 152 pounds with two forfeit wins.

Against Grimsley, Gavin Mintz earned a decision over Login Goodwin 6-2 at 170 pounds. At 182 pounds, Thomas Bradley pinned D.J. Diggs in 2:54.

Kearns, Kady Watkins, Kaden Tatro, Mac McGhee and Zoey Moreno also had forfeit wins for Cedar Ridge against Grimsley.

Against the Timberwolves, Tatro pinned Emmanuel All-Gonzalez in 2:31, which evened the dual match 24-24. Mintz then put Cedar Ridge in the lead after he finished off Jamira Jackson via pinfall in 3:10.

Bradley also had a forfeit win against Montgomery Central.

Last season, Cedar Ridge finished 11-8. In the absence of individual tournaments like the Jim King Invitational at Orange High, the Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill and the Buccaneer Cup at Bartlett-Yancey High Schoo, Cedar Ridge has been able to schedule more dual matches this year. Cedar Ridge also hosts its own individual tournament each year, the Red Wolf Invitational, every November.

Cedar Ridge still has six more dual matches scheduled before the 3A Mideast Regional championships, which will be the first individual tournament for wrestlers across the state, next month. The regionals will be held at Eastern Guilford High School in Gibsonville.

On Wednesday, Cedar Ridge will host powerful Uwharrie Charter Academy at Red Wolves Gymnasium.

The sport of lacrosse comprises our retro Orange Panther of the Week. These week, Ryan Merrill and Caleb Davis wanted to start their Memorial Day weekend with a joint interview on Friday evening. Merrill was honored for the week of February 21, while Davis was honored for the week of February 28. On February 24, Merrill scored six goals in Orange’s 10-6 victory over Cedar Ridge at Auman Stadium. The following night, Merrill had two goals and three assists in a 16-2 victory over Northern Durham at Durham County Stadium. Merrill led Orange with 40 goals and 61 points in 2021. On March 2, Davis tied his season-high with four goals and seven points as Orange defeated Carrboro 19-7. Two nights later, Davis had four goals and three assists as Orange defeated Vance Charter School 15-2 to wrap up the Conference 9 Championship. It was Orange’s first conference championship in lacrosse. Merrill and Davis were paired on the first unit for an Orange team that reached the 3A/2A/1A State Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. They will graduate together next month. Merrill will attend Appalachian State. Davis will journey to UNC Wilmington. They both plan on playing club lacrosse and have left their mark on Orange lacrosse by being members of the most successful team in school history under head coach Chandler Zirkle.

Regardless of whether you wear the burgundy, black and grey of Cedar Ridge or the orange and black of the Orange Panthers, there will be something for every baseball fan tonight.

Cedar Ridge will host Orange in baseball at Red Wolves Stadium tonight at 6 PM. In a benefit for Vs. Cancer, Cedar Ridge baseball coach Bryson Massey has worked exhaustingly to compile a lengthy list of items that will go to people holding a lucky raffle ticket.

Cedar Ridge joined forces with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Vs. Cancer program in an effort to defeat childhood cancer-the deadliest disease affecting children in the United States.

Among the items that will be up for bid tonight will be signed baseball from several Baltimore Orioles, including Cedric Mullins, Freddy Galvis, Ryan Mountcastle, Shawn Armstrong and Darren Holmes.

Mullins is a native of Greensboro who has played with the Orioles since 2018. Just last month, Mullins had his first two home run game against the New York Yankees.

There will also be several game-worn items up for raffle. That includes cleats worn by current Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jeff Hoffman, who was the 9th overall selection in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. Massey knew Hoffman from their days at East Carolina University, where Massey was a student manager for three years.

Also available for raffle will be a signed camouflage hat worn by Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini, who knows about battling cancer firsthand. Mancini had a malignant tumor removed from his colon last year. In November, Mancini announced he was cancer-free and returned to the Orioles lineup this spring.

There will also be a signed, orange and black Baltimore Orioles hat from current Baltimore Orioles Matt Harvey and Paul Fry. Harvey is a former UNC standout who was an National League All-Star selection in 2014 with the New York Mets.

Other items up for raffle is a signed hat by Baltimore pitcher Shawn Armstrong, a native of New Bern who also played for East Carolina; plus another autographed hat by Baltimore pitcher John Means.

There will also be lots of gift cards from facilities and restaurants across Hillsborough and Durham. That includes: a $25 gift card from El Patron Mexican Restaurant in Durham; a $25 gift card from Home Depot; three $10 gift cards from Chik-Fil-A; a $25 Domino’s Pizza gift card; two $25 Subway gift cards; two $25 gift cards with choice of the Longhorn Steakhouse or the Olive Garden; two $25 gift cards from the Cracker Barrel; a $75 gift card from the Wooden Nickel in Hillsborough.

There will also be a gift card from Panciuto Italian Restaurant in Hillsborough, as well as a gift card from Bradsher Grading and Septic Tank in Hillsborough.

Cedar Ridge selected the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Children’s Center to receive a portion of the funds for tonight’s game. Thanks to the generous support from of friends, family and fans, the team is well on its way to meeting its fundraising goal.

You can make a donation at this link.

Vs. Cancer was started by pediatric brain cancer survivor and former college athlete Chase Jones. Vs. Cancer empowers any sports team, any athlete, and any community to help kids with cancer. As a signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Vs. Cancer proceeds help fund child life programs in local hospitals, financial assistance funds for families experiencing a pediatric brain tumor diagnosis and groundbreaking research to cure pediatric brain tumors.

Orange defeated Cedar Ridge 19-9 earlier this month. Last Friday, the Red Wolves defeated Northwood in Hillsborough. This will be the final meeting between the two teams, in any sport, this academic year.

Going into the 3A Mideast Regionals at Eastern Guilford High School next month, two Cedar Ridge wrestlers maintain undefeated individual records after a tri-meet in Yanceyville.

On Wednesday night, the Cedar Ridge wrestling team improved to 11-5 after sweeping a tri-meet from Bartlett-Yancey and Burlington Cummings. The Red Wolves rode a key pinfall win by James Rosati-Brown to a 33-30 win over the Buccaneers. Competing at 152 pounds, Rosati-Brown pinned BY’s Logan Church in 3:09. It was Rosati-Brown’s 70th career win. Later in the night against Cummings, Rosati Brown would earn a forfeit win to go to 16-0 on the season.

At 160 pounds, freshman Kaden Tatro pinned Christian Smith in 1:30. Thomas Bradley secured the dual match win for the Red Wolves with a 10-8 decision over Jakoby Casselman.

Fernando Martinez, Kady Watkins and Daina Pritchard earned forfeit wins for the Red Wolves against the Buccaneers.

Pritchard moved to 16-0 on the year as Cedar Ridge defeated Cummings 47-30 in the final match of the night. At 145 pounds, Prichard earned a technical fall over Elijah Collins 18-3. It was one of only two matches that didn’t end in a forfeit. In the other, Cedar Ridge heavyweight Aidan Kearns pinned Cummings’ Wesley Reese in 37 seconds. Two female wrestlers for the Red Wolves, Watkins and Zoey Moreno, picked up forfeit wins. Watkins has ten victories this year. Also winning via forfeit against the Cavaliers were Rosati-Brown, Martinez, Tatro, and Bradley. Martinez, a sophomore, now has a career record of 49-14. He will go for his 50th career win tonight when Cedar Ridge faces Greensboro Grimsley and Montgomery Central in another tri-meet.

Women’s Tennis: Orange 8, Cedar Ridge 1; Orange 9, Vance County 0

The Orange women’s tennis team has won four consecutive matches, as well as seven of its last eight. For the second year in a row, the Lady Panthers swept the season series from crosstown rival Cedar Ridge. On Wednesday, Orange defeated Cedar Ridge 8-1.

Freshmen started in two singles spots for Orange Coach Justin Webb. Grace Pell won at #2 singles 6-1, 6-1. At #3 singles, Finley White captured her match 6-1, 6-0. Halle Boroski and Emma Williamson also had singles wins for the Lady Panthers.

Cedar Ridge captured the #1 singles match. Freshman Cameron Mayhew won 6-0, 6-2 to improve to 3-2 in single play this year. Mayhew is the younger sister of Josh Mayhew, who became the first Cedar Ridge player to reach a state championship tennis final earlier this month in the 3A men’s championships at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Orange junior Jinkie Andrews won at #4 singles 6-2, 6-2. Later in the day, Andrews teamed with senior Morgan Gwinn to win at #1 doubles 8-4. Boroski & Williamson won at #2 doubles. Tea Jones and senior Lindsey Jouannet finished the day with an 8-3 victory in #3 doubles.

In what will likely be the final head-to-head matchup between Orange and Vance County in any sport as conference rivals, the Lady Panthers two dual matches over the Vipers on Thursday afternoon. Orange won 9-0. The Vipers, who brought three players in from Henderson, forfeited the final match.

Andrews started at #1 singles and won 8-0. Jouannet won at #2 singles. Sophomore Madelyn Horn captured her #3 singles match. Isabelle Lynn and Ashley Behringer won the only doubles match that was contested 8-0.

Orange is now 7-3 overall, 6-3 in the Big 8 Conference. The Lady Panthers will host senior day against Northwood on Tuesday. First, the two teams will complete a suspended match from May 5 that started in Pittsboro. The Chargers led 4-3 at the time of the stoppage. Orange and Northwood will then play its regularly scheduled match.

Cedar Ridge will host Northern Durham on Tuesday. The Red Wolves defeated the Knights 9-0 on May 5. Cedar Ridge is also scheduled to face Vance County on June 7.

The Big 8 Women’s Tennis Tournament is scheduled for June 11. The 3A Mideast Regionals will be held at the Burlington Tennis Center on June 18.

As classes wound down at Orange High this week, the women’s tennis team continued a winning streak. On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 8-1 at Panther Tennis Courts. Junior Jinkie Andrews captured her singles match 6-3, 6-2. Andrews teamed with senior Morgan Gwinn 8-4 to win in #1 doubles. On Thursday, Orange won two dual matches over Vance County. Andrews started at #1 singles against the Vipers and won 8-0. It was her Andrews’ eighth win of the year. Earlier this month, Gwinn’s younger brother, Brandon, went to the 3A State Tournament in doubles play. Gwinn teamed with Colin O’Hagerty after they finished 4th in the Mideast Regionals. This season, Gwinn has started at #1 singles for Orange. On Tuesday, Gwinn and classmates Halle Boroski, Ashley Behringer, Lindsey Jouannet and Emma Williamson will be honored before the resumption of a suspended match against Northwood for Senior Day. After the completion of the earlier match, which was suspended in Pittsboro because of a thunderstorm, Orange will have its regularly scheduled home match against the Chargers. Orange has won four in a row and is 7-3 overall, 6-3 in the Big 8 Conference.

The Orange wrestling team captured the Big 8 Championship on Tuesday night. The Panthers defeated Chapel Hill 45-22 at Tiger Gymnasium on Tuesday night to finish 7-0 in the Big 8. Orange senior Hayden Horne had the most exciting match of the night. Competing at 220 pounds, Horne defeated Bryan Ramirez in sudden victory 8-7. Later in the night, Horne pinned Jordan’s Pablo Araujo Cruz in 2:57 to improve to 8-0 on the season. He has two pins. Horne was a starting right tackle for the Orange football team and was named All-Big 8 Conference earlier this month. In a new look double wing offense installed at the beginning of the second week of the season, Horne anchored the offensive line that relied heavily on the run throughout the season. He helped Orange gain 250 rushing yards against Vance County, 270 yards against Cedar Ridge and a season-best 373 yards in the season-finale at Chapel Hill. Horne will graduate next month and attend East Carolina this August. Horne will return to action on Tuesday for the Orange wrestling team in a tri-meet against Bartlett-Yancey and Walter Williams.

The Orange wrestling team will end its stint in the Big 8 Conference the same way it left the 4A PAC-6, the 3A Five County, the 3A Carolina and the 2A/1A Mid State.

As a conference champion.

A year after its string of 16 consecutive conference championships came to an end at the hands of Chapel Hill, the Panthers defeated the Tigers 45-22 at newly renovated Tiger Gymnasium on Tuesday night to win the 2021 Big 8 Championship. With the win, Orange concludes its stay in the Big 8 Conference with a cumulative record of 52-1, dating back to the league’s formation in 2013-2014.

“The coaches are happy for these seniors to close with a conference championship,” said Orange wrestling coach Spenser Poteat, who secured his third conference title as a head coach. “This team has been working really hard and it was good to see that pay off. Our guys wrestled well tonight and were excited to compete.”

Orange (13-0, 7-0 in the Big 8) also defeated Jordan 66-17 in its final match of the tri-meet.

Last year in the regular season finale, Orange led Chapel Hill 30-16 going into the final three matches before the Tigers scored two pins and a major decision to pull off a stunning 32-30 victory to take the conference crown on Orange’s senior night.

“I think after a while you get into a mindset where you expect to win,” Poteat said. “Once we lost last year, it gave us something to work that much harder for.”

On Wednesday, the Panthers won its share of bonus points to reassume its spot on the throne.

With Orange leading 33-16, senior Matthew Smith-Breeden secured Orange’s 17th conference title in the last 18 years with a 9-5 decision over Chapel Hill’s Bao Dinh at 145 pounds.

The most tense bout of the night came at 220, where senior Hayden Horne went to overtime with Bryan Ramirez. In the first sudden victory round, Horne gained an escape point to win 8-7. It vaulted the Panthers into a 15-0 lead after Chapel Hill forfeited at 182 and 195 pounds (which were wins for Brendon Worsham and Elliott Woods). Horne, a starting right tackle in football who will attend East Carolina this fall, improved to 8-0 on the season.

After Chapel Hill won via forfeit at 106 pounds, Orange’s Dillon Heffernan scored his third pin of the season, finishing Jay Huang in 32 seconds.

Orange’s Kessel Summers, who captured his 100th career match earlier this month, defeated Chapel Hill sophomore Porter Brice 8-5 at 138 pounds. Last year, Brice scored the pin in the final match to win the championship for the Tigers. Summers is 13-0. It was the first time this year he’s been extended to a decision victory.

Senior Henry Joubert-Stanzel ended the dual match with a pin of Chapel Hill’s Danny Miranda in 2:26. Joubert-Stanzel, who was a member of two Orange-Person Athletic Conference championship teams at Stanford Middle School, leads the squad with six pins this season. He is 11-0.

“Henry has been working hard,” Poteat said. “He’s been helping out his other teammates. We’ve been doing a good job on focusing on a team instead of being individuals. I think that’s helped out everybody in the long run.”

Orange’s Sam Crawford edged Chapel Hill’s Jeremy Breeze 8-7 at 152 pounds.

Against Jordan, Orange had seven forfeit wins. In contested matches, Horne pinned Pablo Araujo Cruz in 2:57. Summers, who has qualified for the 3A State Championships twice, pinned Riley Daughtry in 1:40. At 138 pounds, Avery Clark pinned Landus Robertson to improve to 10-3. It was Clark’s third pin of the year.

Crawford pinned Jordan’s Marcus Schultz in 5:03.

Since the North Carolina High School Athletic Association isn’t holding a state dual tournament this year, the Panthers will now try to finish the season undefeated. They have six matches remaining this season, starting with a tri-meet against Bartlett-Yancey and Walter Williams on Tuesday.

The 3A Mideast Regional Championships will be held at Eastern Guilford High School in Gibsonville. The Greensboro Coliseum will host the State Championships.

It is the fourth conference championship for Orange athletics this season, joining men’s lacrosse, softball and a co-championship for baseball.